Survey of the folklore and mythology of the principal non-Scandinavian peoples of the Nordic lands: Finns, Saami, Greenland, Inuit. Comparative evidence from other circumpolar traditions and from ancient and modern Scandinavian tradition. Readings and discussion in English.

The pre-Christian mythologies of non-Scandinavian peoples of the North are known today because their oral traditions were recorded in writing relatively soon after the arrival of missionaries. In this course, we will explore the non-Scandinavian worldviews depicted in these texts, but we will also examine the perspectives of the authors who documented these oral traditions. Focusing on the folklore of three selected non-Scandinavian peoples—the Greenlandic Inuit, the Sami, and the Finns—we aim to gain insight into who inhabited their world and how this worldview affected their social structures. By comparing and contrasting the mythologies of these three peoples, we can ultimately uncover both differences and similarities. The course will employ a source-critical approach. By the end of this course, students will have become well-acquainted with the textual sources, be able to recognize the significant challenges inherent in studying this material, and have familiarized themselves with prominent scholarly trends in folklore studies. All readings are in English.

Repeat Rules

Course is not repeatable for credit.

Requirements class fulfills